A/N: I'm sooooooo sorry that it's taken me a while to get up this chapter! I got caught up in the moving, then I had no computer to get on to type my school has no computers and we're already almost 3/5 done! and then I lost interest. I just got my inspiration back. To make up for such a lack in inefficiency, I'll make this chapter long.

Chapter 19: The Rescue

Sosonokatsu ducked into a room, listening for theguards in Kakon's castleto leave. When he tried the door, he found that it had locked upon shutting. Turning around, he found two more doors. Each had a number over them. Resisting the urge to further undignify himself by smacking his forehead, he silently cursed himself for walking right into this trap. Now he must choose a door, one more dangerous than the other.

Diana clothed herself in the dress that was laid out for her on the bed. It was completely blood red. Miraculously, it wasn't "improper", but one that nobility would wear out to a ball or a gathering. Although she wasn't wearing anything that would show anything other than some cleavage, she did not like what the dress implied.

The old maid, showing some sympathy, spoke cheerfully with her. "His highness won't allow you to be harmed. This is a simple dinner. Don't bother yourself with the others at this feast. They are just jealous that their prince had chosen an outlander as his mate. Especially one of your breeding."

"What do you mean one of my breeding?"

"Well, you are born legally of the Moon, are you not? There you are then. The Light, the Dark, and the Moon have been at war for so long, there are too many hurts on either side."

But if one of the sides were to marry one of the others, war could no longer be made upon them. For they would technically be of one people. "But I don't want to mate Kakon. I have another at the palace of Tortall –"

"It would be better for you to forget about him. Or if you can't, don't speak of him in front of anyone here, especially Kakon. You don't want to give anyone a reason to accuse you of treason, or to assassinate you."

"I'm in more danger here than I am in the Valley of Light!"

"Just tread lightly. Here comes my Lord."

The old lady backed away as Kakon entered. He stopped where he was to stare. The sleeveless dress stopped at the middle of her calf and there was a slit up the left side to the middle of her thigh. It was made of really fine and expensive silk. Over the dress was a veil like contraption that went to the floor and made the outfit's butterfly sleeves.

On her feet were fine silk red slippers with gold stitching. Her long black hair was put into a ponytail and curled into four large curls that barely brushed her shoulders. Fixed into the back of her hair was a red fishnet like thing.

A golden tiara rested upon her brow, a ruby the size of her thumb claw in the middle of her forehead and two rubies on each side the size of her pinky claw. Her lips her painted red and a dark red powder colored her eyelids.

Kakon seemed to shake off the feeling that seemed to have momentarily taken over him. He held out his arm. "Come. We are to meet with my main generals, architectures, and mages. They must be introduced to you, so they may get used to you being here."

She had no choice to refuse. She knew that he would force to come if she balked. Taking a trembling breath, she placed her arm on his. He led the way to the Great Dinning Hall.

All of the people sitting at the grand table rose as Kakon and Diana were announced and walked in. Surprise replaced the masks of politeness on the occupants' faces. They didn't expect her to be so stunning. Yeah, they had heard of the Moon Princess's beauty, but those words were gossip out of the mouths of spies, assassins, and traitors.

She was nervous; they could smell it on her as easily as they could smell it on a mouse who is confronted by a cat. She clutched Kakon's arm as if it was her only protection from the stares given to her by these strange people. They moved to the seats that were left for them at the head of the table. When Kakon sat, with Diana on his left side, the others sat as well.

"Ladies, gentlemen… I would like to introduce to you, Diana. Diana, the gentleman to my right is Iolo, the head of defense. The lady next to him is Siona, his mate. The gentle lady to your left is Anissa, the head of the military. And the lady on the left wing of the table is Laurana; she is in command of the spies and assassins. And Ooli, Iolo's brother, is in control of personal guard and training our warriors."

They bowed their heads as their names were said, acknowledging her. She did the same, not knowing what else to do. She knew they knew she was scared, but she still didn't want to look a coward in front of these people who clearly did not approve of cowardice.

The dinner was quiet, filled with tension. She really didn't feel hungry and picked at the meat on her plate. One of the men saw this and sneered at her. "What's wrong Princess? Our food not good enough for you?"

Diana jumped, clearly startled from this sudden sound breaking the silence. She glanced up, eyes wide. Kakon also looked at the speaker, but it wasn't one of kindness. Usually it froze people where they stood. The bold one quickly looked away and started playing with his food.

Diana, not wanting to provoke any more jibes to anger Kakon, started to eat the food. The dinner, after that, seemed to move pretty fast. Soon Kakon was leading her back to the room. He sat her down on the stool in front of the desk. He looked as if he was about to say something, but closed his mouth and walked out the room without a backward glance.

Diana was about to take her hair down and wash off the makeup that donned her face when Kakon burst back into the room. He looked truly angry, angrier than what his general had said earlier on. He stalked to her and gripped her upper arm tightly, forcing her to rise.

"You sent word to your lover-boy, didn't you? How did you do it through my shielding?" He nearly shouted the words in her face.

She tried to pull her arm out of Kakon's painful grip, completely confused. "You're hurting me! What are you talking about? I haven't been able to use my magic since I came to this gods cursed place!"

"Then tell me how Katsu got here? How did he know to come here?"

"I don't know. Haven't you ever thought that maybe you had a leak in your oh-so-careful government? You could have spies from anyone here, even your parents."

Kakon growled deep in his chest and shoved her back onto the stool. He then pointed to the mirror and smirked at her. "You can watch how your lover is destroyed." With that, he swept out of the room, clearly bent on murder.

Diana shouted in horror as she watched Soso opened a door and walked through. Although she could see quite clearly, she knew that all he saw was pitch black darkness. There was a shimmer and the room turned into a jungle. Hidden within its corners were animals, dangerous animals waiting to strike.

As the tiger leapt at him, a tiger whose claws were too long to be normal and fangs that went past its lower jaw, she called out, "Behind you!"

Behind you! The voice seemed to have come from nowhere, sounding within his mind.

Without thinking about it, he obeyed and whirled around, ready to defend his life with his dagger. The thing was just shy of being considered a sword, and he was quite skilled in using it. He slashed out at the same time he turned, striking the creature on the shoulder.

The animal was peculiar. It looked like one of those preserved creatures in ice called Saber Tooth Tigers, but those looked more like a lioness with over long fangs. This creature was a different version. It was basically a tiger given the attributes of a Saber Tooth, and the claws belonging to an ant eater.

Enraged, it struck out, leaving four deep gashes on his right thigh. He leapt back, trying to keep most of his weight off of the injured leg. This time, when the creature leapt at him, Soso was ready. The blade flicked out and in, sinking into the creature's temple. Instant death bespoke upon it.

As he traveled deeper into the forest, more twisted creatures struck out. Each time he got more banged up, weaker. Each time, the animals were killed. His survival instincts were taking over, humanity being preserved, instinct took over. The striking of the blade became almost mechanical. Movement at the edge of his vision and the blade went striking.

Diana watched in horror as Sosonokatsu got weaker and weaker with each blow delivered to him. The first attack of the tiger had struck too deep, making him loose a lot of blood. Now there were even more bleeding wounds. The precious life's liquid was running out of him. Not even an immortal could survive long like that.

Sure, their kind healed pretty fast, but not that fast. He had too many deep wounds that would take as long as a mortal to heal. He needed help and he needed it fast.

Then Soso stumbled upon a clearing and a girl sat there, chained up. When the image got closer, Diana gasped in horror. The girl was… her. She looked exactly like her in every aspect. Down even to the scar that ran from just below her right boob, down across her stomach, to the middle of the left side of her back.

Soso scrambled to her and cut her free. Just as the last of the bonds fell to the ground, ten beasts came out of the shadows. Their eyes glowed brightly of red, murder in their eyes. Just as the creatures surged forward, the mirror went black.

Diana cried out, and then started yelling at the mirror, as if it could understand her. "You stupid little piece of Sheka! Show me him, show me him this instant! I want to see Sosonokatsu!"

She screamed at the cursed thing for about ten minutes before her voice broke into a sob. Diana then rose and rushed out of the room in tears, not watching where she was going. She turned the corner and smacked right into something that went, "Oof."

Four people stood there. They looked younger than the ones who attended the dinner, but they had similar attributes to those main leaders. When the one who looked most like Iolo looked at her closer, his grin could be considered maniacal.

"Well, Shauna, it looks as if the Beast's little pet had wondered too far from its comfortable little den."

"You're right Shannon. Shall we return it, or shall we see what pleasures that a kitten such as this could give?"

"Oh I don't know. What do you think Hayley? What shall we do with her?"

"Maybe we should skin her and see if she bleeds silver or red."

"Ashling?"

"I'm game to see what spoils we can plunder."

"Well then little kitten, come with us quietly and you shan't be hurt, too much."

The one name Shannon grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to him. A growl sounded in her chest and pulled away from him. This man reeked of death and rotting flesh, she wanted nothing to do with this fowl creature.

"Well, it looks like the kitty's got some spark after all. That's fine with us. We like spark. Don't we?"

A chorus of agreeing echoed his question. The one named Ashling came up behind her and grabbed her other wrist, pulling it behind her back. Putting it in a painful position, he forced her to go or risk getting her arm pulled out of socket.

She let out a yowl loud enough to wake the dead before a hand clamped over her mouth. Eerie green eyes glared into her own purple slit ones. "I said to come along quietly and you wouldn't be hurt much. Now you want the going to be painful-"

He never finished the sentence as he was flung into the wall at the opposite end of the hall. Shauna was soon to follow her twin. Hayley blanched and took off, deserting her fellow conspirators. Ashling, seeing that he was basically alone, let Diana go. Shoving Diana at the white haired man, he turned the other direction and fled.

Diana looked up to see, Sosonokatsu. He was all beaten up and bloody, but still standing proudly. Diana sank into his arms, exhausted by the week's days' events.

"Let's go home." The exhaustion in Soso's voice seemed to rival that of her own.

"How are we going to get there?"

"My horse and Sakura are in a cave just north of here. It's not far… Can you walk there, or should I carry you?" Despite his injuries, he was still worried about her.

"You don't look fit to carrying anything. I can walk. I'm just tired, not exhausted beyond all strength. I wasn't just fighting off dozens of beasts bent on killing me."

She allowed him to put his weight on her a little and they walked out to the same garden that Soso had first entered. They climbed over the wall and made it back to the small cavern. Sakura saw them and hissed upon seeing Soso, backing away from him.

"Stop that Gin Sakura! We're tired and you're not helping."

The cat backed away from them as they went in and collapsed onto the saddle blankets that were on the ground. As the sun's last ray dipped over the mountain, they both slipped into sleep, Soso's arm protectively over Diana's waist.

The fire-cat, disgusted with her mistress, left the cave to find a better place to sleep. She couldn't understand why she was with him.

Diana awoke in the morning to find an arm over her stomach and she not on the comfortable feather bed that she had gotten used to. She slowly turned over to find Sosonokatsu the owner of that arm. Then the night's events rushed back to her.

She smiled and laid her hand on his chest. He grabbed it without opening his eyes and pulled her on top of him. She looked down at him warily, but he did nothing more.

"How exactly are we going to get back to Tortall, let alone, the palace?"

"We will ride the stallion, and I'll open a gate. We'll gallop in through the gates in full glory, survivors of a bitter attack."

"But they know that I've been kidnapped by now. And that you went off to rescue me."

"Did he really treat you that bad?"

"No. He was just, misguided. He doesn't really know how to act towards another person. I think it has to do something with his childhood."

"Lets get back to Tortall. We don't want our parents to raise complete Hell there, do we? I know that I don't want my father there. Do you want yours there, ruining everything?"

Diana shuddered, thinking of her mother and father being there. Just her father there wouldn't be that bad, but her mother. Her mother was one of the scariest people she'd ever seen. She was probably the scariest.

Sosonokatsu boosted Diana up into the saddle. He went up after her, the stallion fidgeting nervously, tossing his head with vigor. He jerked the reins and Midoshi stopped. He said the spell that opened the portal and kicked theequine through.

"Sakura, come on." The cat backed away from the gateway, hissing. "Then fine, you can find your way home. I don't want mother to be any angrier."

The portal closed at the neko mata's pitiful yowl. It was cut off suddenly with the absence of the magical doorway. Soso turned Midoshi towards the castle and kicked him into a full out gallop.

Diana found the relief that her parents hadn't come to the palace within the few days that she had went missing. She was intensely interviewed by Sir Alanna and Lady Knight Keladry. She answers all of the questions to the best she could, then was dismissed.

A brief quarrel with her friends put her in a fowl mood. They were thinking about taking her back to her father's land, forget about being a knight of Tortall or no. Then she learns that she has a hell of a lot of work to make up. First for being sick, then kidnapped.

She was sitting on a chair in front of her mirror as she brushed out all of the tangles in her hair when her door opened and closed. She looked at Sosonokatsu through the reflection in the mirror. He had a strange glint in his eyes and he stalked up to her. She rose and turned around to meet him.

He grabbed her in a tight grip, one that hurt, and kissed her. He nipped her lip a little hard, making her gasp, which he to advantage of to deepen the kiss. His roughness surprised her. She never believed that he would be so violent…

That's when she noticed that his scent wasn't the same. Actually, it smelt like… Kakon! She jerked her head away and tried to pull out of his grip, but he wouldn't let go. He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, a grin on his face that showed his pointy fangs.

Just as he bent his head towards hers again, her door burst open. They both looked in that direction. Diana's expression was of surprise and relief, relief that someone had interrupted this position and surprise to see another Sosonokatsu in the doorway. Kakon's was of anger, anger that someone would dare to interrupt and anger at seeing the other Sosonokatsu.

Soso started yelling in a language that she never heard before and was answered by the other Sosonokatsu. They bickered like that for a few seconds before the Sosonokatsu nearest her shifted form into Kakon.

When they both looked at her, she started shifting from foot to foot. Sakura walked in behind the real Sosonokatsu and ran to her mistress. When she saw the hurt expression in Soso's eyes, she knew that he believed what ever Kakon had told him, judging by the smug look on Kakon's face.

Biting back a sob, her eyes went blurry with unshed tears. She ran outside with Sakura close to her heals. The cat jumped over the rail, transforming into her battle form and Diana jumped onto her back. The cat flew up to where the two males couldn't see her, then took her to her friends' rooms.

She was sitting on the edge of her bed asMaelin brushed out her hair andAdianna was attacking the dummy she had set up in the corner. She had told them all that had happened and apologized for being mean earlier, and they too apologized, saying that they had stepped out of place.

They were comfortable for about five minutes when a knock sounded on the door. "Diana, it's me. Let me in."

Adiannalooked about ready to kill, but Diana shook her head at her. She rose, her two friends close to her and Sakura on her shoulder. She opened the door to admit him in.

"Diana, I'm sorry–"

Kakon flew out of nowhere and attacked Soso. He whirled around and struck with his own attack. He kicked Kakon back and he struck the wall and sank to the ground, clutching his head. Soso ran at him, bent on giving the death blow.

Diana called out and threw herself between the two. Katsu was forced to pull back lest her hit her. He jumped back and looked at her, staring defiantly at him.

"So, I see that you have chosen." His voice lacked any emotion at all, his face had slipped back behind that mask that he showed to the world. He whirled around and leapt over the building.

Diana called after him, but he didn't seem to hear her, or ignored her. She decided to do what she hadn't tried before, use her youkai speed to fly. She took a deep breath and jumped, following after Soso. Landing on the roof, she found that she hadn't the strength enough to follow after him like that.

Sakura, the always faithful servant, came up beside her. Smiling her thanks, she mounted up and the giant cat. Immediately, the cat took off, being faster than even Sosonokatsu's jumping. They found him in his tree in the garden of foreign plants.

"Sosonokatsu, come here."

When he didn't even flick an eyelid, she dismounted from Sakura and leapt up onto his branch. He looked at her with his cold mask. It hurt her to see him gaze at her like that, but she must make him understand instead of going to her room and giving up.

"Soso, I don't choose him. I just… I can't Mate to a cold-hearted killer. Someone had already taken my heart before I ever met him. I couldn't choose him."

"Then why did you stop me from killing him. He's part of the Dark blood. He's no longer the childhood friend that I know. He's gotten cold and kills any who crosses him."

"Because there is goodness in him. He's just been hurt, abused, and neglected. I couldn't let you become a killer."

"Why not? I kill in the war."

"That's a little different. There, it's kill or be killed."

A roar sounded and Sosonokatsu grabbed Diana and leapt out of the tree. When they both looked at where they had been, they saw an ax buried deep in the branch. Kakon rushed at them, bent on murder. It looked as if he wanted to kill them both now.

He was ten feet away when dust picked up and someone appeared out of it, as if born of the dust. The girl rushed forward and grabbed Kakon's face, kissing his open mouth. Kakon, shocked by this nature, backed away a few steps.

"Aria!"

"Well little sister, you seem to get into a lot of messes without me around to keep an eye on you."

"Yes, I kind gotten in a hole a little too deep for me to get out."

'Can you help him? This is Kakon, prince of the Dark Mountains. He's been hurt and had somehow gotten it in his head that I wanted him.'

'So, you have chosen your One then? Good. And the prince to the Light Valley of all people! This is going to be very interesting. I've heard about this Kakon. Maybe I can, over time, unhook the claws of his mother from him.'

'Thank you. But, don't tell mother about my chosen Mate yet. Nor father. They'll throw a humungous fit.'

"Sisters oath bonded as blood."

"Sisters oath bonded as one."

Aria takes Kakon's hand and leads him away, very shocked and confused. She salutes Diana as she walks away, the dust swirling about them. Sosonokatsu turns to Diana to see a strange smile on her face.

"What was that? Who was that?"

"That is Aria, my blood oath sister. She has a gift for providing miracles when they are needed most. She's going to try to heal Kakon."

"…"

"Soso, when I said that I couldn't Mate to a cold-hearted killer, I was talking about both of you. He kills in cold blood, I could never Mate to him, even if he gets healed. And if you had just killed him, I couldn't have chosen you. I couldn't allow you to do that, it was selfish of me-"

Soso stopped her with a kiss, lightly nibbling her lip, begging entry. With a sigh of contentment, she allowed him in. He was hers, and always would be.

A/N: Yeah, I'm done. Tell me how you like this chapter. I'm not done with it yet. She still has to make up all of that work that she had missed. And they both have to deal with their parents. ;;)

Pesche: I'm sooooo sorry. I didn't mean to take forever writing the next chapter. I don't have internet access in my new home, and I my school doesn't even have computers yet... It's new school and the computers are late. I would never quit a story completely that I've posted up, unless too many people hated it. I would eventually get back to it.My own hampsters and birds should attack me. I'm very bad. Maybe they won't bite me too hard. I still need to finish.

Blue Mariposa: I use sarcasm alot. Of course I would reconize it. I decided to stop putting in the meanings. If new people start at a middle chapter, they're going to have to go to the beginning ones to figure it out. Either that or look them up.

Night Marauder: Wow! You do have a point. I wouldn't want to wake up, no never mind. I would. And that's because I read Atwater-Rhodes (spl?) and her Hawk Song and the sequal. I would very much like to wake up next to a snake.

Wow! You do have a point. I wouldn't want to wake up, no never mind. I would. And that's because I read Atwater-Rhodes (spl?) and her Hawk Song and the sequal. I would very much like to wake up next to a snake.

I made him that way intentionally. If you were a god, wouldn't you like to screw with peoples minds? I would. Yes, one of those would come in handy. And Bloodsilver that I'd created. No, nevermind. Bloodsilver is not going into this story. It's going into an original story on FictionPress. ;;)

Dusty-kouhai: --; Little Brother... You're killing me here.

Plushie-kun: I'ven't been taking that for a while. Stupid stuff. I'm getting A's without it. KAI! hugs/pets/cuddles No, no. Don't listen to her Kai. I'll keep you here. Nice and safe. !-! Yey! When the Plushie likes, it is good! Poor Kakon. Who is this Envy anyways? glances suspiciously at Plushie What does that supposed to mean? Are you making fun of me, because you say I write horribly? This is nothing, far better than... Ko Inu. dies Aaaaaack! You made me say that horrible name.

Kathryne of Tirragen: Welcom to my fanfiction. Please, make yourself comfortable and enjoy.